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Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Something a little more important than a game...

The scariest of scenarios played out in the early minutes of Monday's Dallas Stars and Columbus Blue Jackets game, as Stars forward Rich Peverly collapsed on the Dallas bench, launching a frantic bid by medical staff to stabilize him and then have him taken to hospital.

Play came to a standstill as the Stars rapidly exited their bench, allowing for space for those who had turned their attention to Peverly, who suffered what has been called a cardiac event. Once his condition had been stabilized, he was loaded onto an ambulance gurney and transported for further care.

The lingering effect of the incident leaving the the Stars to advise the NHL that they did not believe that the game should continue on.

A request that to their credit, the Columbus Blue Jackets fully understood. The NHL made the decision to postpone the game at the 6:23 mark of the first period, with word that it would be finished at a date yet to be announced.

The prognosis finally delivered a bit of positive news, with word that Peverly had responded to treatment and would remain in hospital to seek further treatment. The Stars forward has a pre-existing cardiac condition that has been treated through the season for it. He had recently complained of ill health and sat out a number of Stars games.

Stars officials offered some background on the incident and briefed the media following he incident to provide an update on his condition.

What his status will be moving forward this NHL season and for his career for that matter, will no doubt be a subject of consultation between Mr. Peverly and his doctors and team officials.

Hockey has of course been his focus, no doubt since his earliest of playing days. Still, there are larger considerations for a young man than sports, attention to his health will and should be the only thing on his mind in the weeks to come.

As word began to spread that Peverly was fine and resting in hospital a flood of best wishes began to flow his way, from NHL players and teams and from other leagues as well, all wishing him a speedy recover from the scare of the early evening.

Some of the coverage of the moment that struck a fair amount of fear for all involved with hockey can be found below: